St Cuthbert’s Way
A 63-mile long-distance path in the Borders and Northumberland. St Cuthbert’s Way is a pilgrim’s route from Melrose in southern Scotland to Lindisfarne / Holy Island, off the North Sea coast of northern England. The walk crosses the Eildon Hills and Cheviot Hills. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: NT 548 341
Distance: 63 miles (101 km)
Time: 25–32 hours
Duration: 4–6 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
OL16 Cheviot Hills
338 Galashiels, Selkirk and Melrose
339 Kelso, Coldstream and Lower Tweed Valley
340 Holy Island and Bamburgh
Summary
St Cuthbert’s Way is a long-distance footpath beginning in Melrose, Scotland, and finishing on Lindisfarne Island in England. The route was inspired by the life of St Cuthbert, who began his ministry at Melrose in 650 AD, eventually becoming the Bishop of Lindisfarne. The route provides a link over the Cheviot Hills between the Southern Upland Way (at Melrose) and the Pennine Way National Trail (at Kirk Yetholm), connecting onward with the Northumbrian Coast Path.
From the start at Melrose Abbey, the route visits the Eildon Hills, Bowden, and Newtown St Boswells on the River Tweed opposite Dryburgh Abbey. It then follows the bank of the Tweed downstream to Maxton. Near Maxton, the trail joins Dere Street, following it southeast past the site of the Battle of Ancrum Moor to Monteviot House on the banks of the River Teviot. From Monteviot Bridge, a detour may be taken for an overnight stay in Jedburgh, while the Way skirts the north of the town to continue following Dere Street to Crailinghall before turning northeast to Cessford Moor, Cessford, and Morebattle.
The route then climbs steeply to the ridge of Wideopen Hill, the highest point of the trail at 368 metres, before descending to the villages of Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm, where it meets the Pennine Way. Continuing into England, the Scotland section of the walk is left 2 miles east of Kirk Yetholm. On the English side, the trail descends through the Northumberland National Park to the village of Hethpool in the College Valley. The trail then climbs through the foothills of the Cheviot Hills, passing just south of the hill forts of Yeavering Bell and Humbleton Hill, to the town of Wooler.
From Wooler, the Way ascends the valley of the River Till to the twin villages of West Horton and East Horton, then follows farmland tracks to St Cuthbert’s Cave near Holburn. Near the cave, it joins St Oswald’s Way and the Northumberland Coast Path to head north through Fenwick, reaching the coast just east of Beal. The final section across the sands to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) can only be walked at low tide—either via the modern road or by the historic, more direct Pilgrim’s Path marked by posts. (Source: Wikipedia)